Water allocations to be increased for Southern California, drought conditions may be easing

The state Department of Water Resources announced Friday it will increase the amount of water it will release from the State Water Project from zero to 5 percent, a sign that drought conditions in California may be easing.

Storms in February and March increased the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and have led to a modest increase in reservoir levels that feed the State Water Project, according to the DWR.

“During February and March, state and federal water agencies worked together to capture storm runoff and increase our water supplies. As a result, the late spring storms have translated into much needed water supplies for communities, farmers and environmental habitat,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin in a prepared statement.

The 5 percent water allocation means 25 million people served by 29 public agencies — including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — will receive a little more than 200,000 acre-feet of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta this year.

MWD said last week a 5 percent allocation would translate into 100,000 acre-feet for MWD, the largest water wholesaler in the state. An acre-foot of water is enough to supply a family of four for about a year.

But even with the 5 percent allocation from the SWP, it is still the lowest the MWD has ever seen in the history of the agency.

Most water managers said the small increase is not enough to end the drought, now in its third year. Last year, Los Angeles had the driest year on record.

“Every Californian can help during this drought by doing their part to reduce their water usage in their homes and businesses,” said John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency.

Adan Ortega, a former MWD vice president who represents smaller water agencies, said a 5 percent allocation is still “a very small amount.”

“It is not enough to make a big difference given the increasing salinity in the Delta which in normal times is diluted with rain and snow runoff. Secretary Laird is wise in urging Californians to continue conserving because this is one of those things that protects wildlife and infrastructure,” he said Friday.

Cowin said the 5 percent allocation will limit salt water intrusion into the Delta. The DWR has canceled plans to install rock barriers to prevent salt from the ocean from reaching the Delta.